Everything posted by JamieLogical
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Vertical sleeve or bypass?
Definitely discuss with your surgeon. You can lose all of your excess weight with both. Your stats don't sound all that bad, so sleeve should easily be an option for you. Some surgeons push bypass for patients with very high BMIs, diabetes, or GERD. If you don't have those concerns, then sleeve will probably be what your surgeon recommends anyway.
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Vets: What Are You Eating Today?
I agree with @@VSGAnn2014 that the amount of calories needed for maintenance is dependent on too many factors for one magic number to work for everyone. 1100 sounds SUPER low to me for maintenance. Weight loss phase MAYBE, but maintenance? Unless your metabolism is completely wrecked, you have thyroid problems, or you are on some sort of medication that disrupts metabolism. On my LAZIEST days I have a basal metabolic rate of 1600. Right now, as I'm training for a half marathon, I have to eat 2200-2600 calories a day to maintain.....
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March 29th is the day!
Everything will be fine. Make sure you post again once you've joined us on the losers' bench and tell us how you're feeling!
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I have a FSA & I don't know where I can use it.
Okay, yeah, that's a completely different guy than who Kindle and I used. We both went to Ariel Ortiz at Obesity Control Center.
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Going back to work after gastric sleeve surgery
I don't think just a few days is enough time off. I went back at 15 days post-op and was still really tired. The pain and discomfort last about 3-5 days. The fatigue lasts a couple of weeks.
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Feeling Down :(
You are going to have many ups and downs along this journey. You are not going to be 100% perfect 100% of the time for the rest of your life. You need to be able to move past any slip-ups without getting yourself into some downward spiral of self-pity and self-loathing. No one is perfect. I had two pieces of ice cream cake for my birthday just yesterday! I'm not beating myself up about it. It's one day in my whole life, coming after a day that I ran 7 miles for my half marathon training. I'm training for a half marathon! That's how much my life has changed. A couple of pieces of birthday cake? Who cares. It's the same for you. You need to focus on all the positive life changes you've made. You are down 70 pounds! Move on.
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Did I have surgery?
So you were supposed to have had a revision from band to sleeve in 2013 but you think they didn't actually sleeve you? Have you had any sort of restriction while eating? I can't see how you could not be sleeved and not know. That seems crazy!
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I have a FSA & I don't know where I can use it.
Which Dr. Ortiz? Ariel or Elias? Still didn't say which one. There are two Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana doing bariatric surgery.
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Theme Park strategies
I have been to several theme parks post-op. I usually pack peanuts and turkey sticks. But some theme parks have pretty decent options as well. I have been able to buy beef sticks or turkey sticks, cups with cheese and pepperoni, and yogurt at snack stands within the parks. I also once bought some chicken tenders and stripped all the breading off. And one time I bought a hamburger and just ate about half the patty/cheese without the bun.
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Hi!
It will completely depend on your insurance requirements. If they require a 6 month supervised diet, then it will be a while before you can get the ball rolling.
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How have your bowels changed?
Just 2 weeks post-op, things can be a little unpredictable as you are still healing, still largely on a liquid diet, and possibly still on medication. I didn't have any accidents or issues, but I have read many on here say something like "never trust a fart". I'm sure just like almost everything else, it's different for everyone. For me, if anything, constipation was more of an issue in the early weeks.
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Can we eat crepes?
There's no reason you shouldn't be physically able to eat crepes. Would I recommend it as a regular thing? Probably not because of the higher carbs. But once in a while would be fine. No one is going to be perfect 100% of the time. For me, when I'm out to breakfast, I always order a scrambled egg with a little feta cheese melted in and a side of breakfast sausage (preferably turkey if they have it).
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5 days post-op questions
How long were you on pain meds post-op? They can cause constipation. Plus the fact that you just aren't eating much now means you don't have much waste building up to pass in the first place. Hang in there and get your water. If it remains an issue, you could try something gentle over-the-counter or call your surgeon's office and ask what they would recommend.
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Protein bars ..
I was look on Amazon ,GNC has them by the bar. But yes I have to consider what works for me although I haven't gained I still would like to get my protein in. Seems like I can implement them in my diet somewhere it couldn't hurt. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App The whole process will be a lot of trial and error in the first year or so. The guidelines from nutritionists and usrgeons are a great start and very important while you are still healing. But you ultimately have to figure out what will work for you long term and how you can live the rest of your life. I think the goal to get more protein in, by whatever means, is a noble one. Even with all the variation in programs and advice, I think one thing we can almost all agree on is that protein is key to long term success!
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Food Selections
It will get better. At one week, getting protein and water in can still be very challenging if your new stomach is still swollen. I really turned a corner with water around 2 weeks post-op. I also found that drinking it VERY cold was easier for me. Some people have an easier time with warm water. So maybe experiment with different temperatures.
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Surgery Date set..... but still not sure
Yeah, going out isn't as big a deal as people thing. My husband and I go out to eat all the time still. Just went out on Friday and will probably go out again tonight. It's easy to find things and just get a to-go box for the rest. Sometimes my husband and I will even share an entree if we know that one has enough meat for us to split and then he can just fill the rest of the way up on sides. Attending social events hasn't been a big deal either. Most of the time, no one even notices what other people are eating. And there is almost always at least SOMETHING I can eat. Diabetes and sleep apnea are serious issues. She should be wanting to keep you healthy and around as long as possible! This surgery could literally save your life!
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Got a date
That's less than a month away! It'll be here in no time!
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Going back to school
Awesome! What are you going to get your degree in?
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Surgery Date set..... but still not sure
My husband was not on board with my surgery either. He didn't think I needed it. He thought my decision to have it was coming from a place of weakness. And he initially lost some respect for me because of it. Now I am 19 months post-op and he sees how much our lives have improved. He has a more objective perspective on the whole thing. And he has FINALLY come around. I just made a post about it a week or two ago here: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/362447-my-husband-finally-gets-it/ You have to make this decision for yourself. No one can know the realities of your daily struggles and what is in your mind and heart besides you. Your wife is likely operating from a position of fear or lack of understanding. While it would be lovely to have her support, you shouldn't sacrifice you health and future happiness just to alleviate her short-term fears.
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Pre-Surgery Questions
I was really tired for a good three weeks after my surgery. I went back to work at 15 days post-op and fatigue was my main complaint at that point. I was so tired that I went straight to bed as soon as I got home from work for the first few days. It got much better once I was allowed more substantial food and could get more calories in. As for exercise, I was only cleared for "brisk walking" for the first 60 days. I was told to try to walk for a total of 60 minutes a day (not 60 minutes straight!). Once I was cleared for more intense exercise, I worked really hard to get myself up over 800 calories a day and then when I started really pushing my workouts, I was trying to get 1100-1200 calories a day. But that took a few months.
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I have a FSA & I don't know where I can use it.
Which Dr. Ortiz? Ariel or Elias?
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Pain when drinking water
Yeah, I had esophageal spasms in the first few weeks post-op. Just seems odd to have them last this long, or in the case of the OP, they didn't even start until she was 2 weeks post-op from the sound of it. If she's been having the pain for only the last two weeks and is a month out.
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Purée Recipes
This site has some good ones. I lived for the baked ricotta: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html
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Pain when drinking water
You should contact your surgeon. It's possible you have a stricture. Pain while drinking is common in the early days/weeks before the swelling goes down, but if you are having it at over a month out, there may be something else going on.
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What Y'all Think- VII
I watch My 600 Pound Life as well. Obviously that show is a pretty extreme example. since the patients involved are all over 600 pounds. They are usually at a level of immobility and dependence on others that most of us don't reach. I also have noted that most of them gained weight steadily and never made any serious attempt to lose weight. Whereas most of the people I have talked to on these forums are more like me where they have gained and lost and gained and lost weight over and over and over again. I think the only reason I didn't reach 600 pounds is because I'd managed to lose and regain about 300 pounds over the course of my life. If I'd only had the "ups" and not the "downs" then I would have been pushing 600 too! While they are extreme cases and maybe haven't had the past weight loss attempts that most of us had, I do think they still have a lot of the same struggles. They are emotional eaters. They use food to cope with things. They are addicted to food. They are overwhelmed. I can definitely relate and sympathize with almost every single person I've seen on that show. I have had some great talks with my husband about the show as well. I posted about that not too long ago: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/362447-my-husband-finally-gets-it/